Concentrating machine



Feb- 22, 1944- c. R. HAMMOND CONCENTRATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 20 1940 l' uw@ Tzmm m Feb. 22,' 1944. C; R` HAMMOND 2,342,193

CONCENTRATING MACHINE Filed'Nov. 20, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 'mi d...

//7 :fe/770# (Vayan/ Hammam( ,4i/nays Feb. 22, 1944. i FQ` HAMMOND l 2,342,193

CONCENTRATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2o 1940 5 sheets-sheet 5 /21 ve/v'f n ya y@ /1 #am/Wand,

Him/nays Patented Feb. 22, 1944 CONCENTRATING MACHINE y Clayson R. Hammond, Salem, Oreg., assignor of fifty-live per cent to John L. Lynch, Salem,

Oreg.

Application November 20, 1940, Serial No. 366,499

6 Claims. (Cl. 209-437) This invention relates to improvements in concentrating machines and is particularly adapted for recovering materials approaching and including the specific gravity of the heavier metals.

The Primary object of my invention is to provide a recovery system that will intermittently sluice the materials being processed and settle and trap the heavier materials alternately with the sluicing. In my new and improved recovery system the sluicing operations move the material through the recovery units, the sluicing being momentarily halted, permitting the heavier materials to concentrate underneath the movement of lighter materials on the recovery umts. The frequency of change from sluicing to recovery may be governed to correspond to the materials being processed, by suitable mechanism provided in the machine for controlling the operation of the recovery units.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a new and novel oscillating movement to be imparted to the screening system for the screening of the materials to be delivered to the recovery units.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of means for controlling the nature of oscillations imparted to the screening system and for controlling the direction of travel of materials over this screening system to meet different workingy conditions.

These and other incidental objects will be ap parent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side assembled view, parts broken away for convenience of illustration, of my new and improved concentrator.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view of the method of fabricating the framework of the machine.

Figure 3 is an end sectional View of the recovery units, taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated and showing diagrammatically the flexible concentrator.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan partly in section of the concentrator, illustrating the mechanism for operating the recovery units.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of Figure 4 partly in section, taken on line 5--5,

looking in the direction indicated, illustrating the relation of the assembled parts.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatical secindicated. This isthe position of the recoveryV units during the sluicing operation.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken on line B-- of Figure 6, of the recovery units in a settling and recovery position. Y

In the drawings:

The concentrator consists of a sub-base l having upwardly extending standards .2, upon which is mounted a U-shaped frame 3. The standards 2 are preferably made from I-beams having the frame 3 resting thereon and being clamped thereto by the clamping bands 4, which encircle the frame 3 and are securely clamped in place by the fastening bolts 5. The reason for adopting this system of securing the frame structure together is to prevent breakage of the frame connections due to vibrations. By using the method shown, the `ioints can be tightened up periodically maintaining a rigid frame construction. The screening unit is indicated by the numeral 6 and the system consists of an upper unit l and a lower unit 8. The assembly is supported by the links 9, having their upper ends looped over the stub shafts I9. Shafts l0 are securely fastened to the framework ll of the concentrator. The lower ends of the links are pivotally mounted or looped over the stub shafts I2, which are secured lto the upper unit 'l of the screen unit 6. The stub shafts i0 and l2 have loose bearings lI3 therearound for directly contacting the link. These bearings are readily replaced when they become worn. Y

There are two pairs of links 9, the forward links I4 are indicated as having a less angle or incline than the rear supporting llinks I5, the reason for this is to provide a special upward movement of the screen assembly for progressing the materials therethrough. The lower unit 8 of the screen assembly is supported by the bolts I6 which are hooked into the frame of the units 'l at Il at their upper ends, and pass through the bosses I8 of the lower unit 8, and are held in place by the adjusting nuts I9 at their lower ends.

I impart an oscillating movement to the screening unit in a new and novel manner, which I will now described. Upwardly extending brackets 20 are mounted on the frame 3 by the clamps 2|.' Bearings are mounted upon these brackets and have a cross shaft 23 journaled therein. Aneccentric 24 is xedly secured to this shaft, and has .thereabout an eccentric band 25, this band4 having a suitable anti-friction bearing therein.` Pivotally connected to the eccentric band* is a connecting rod 26 which extends toward the lforward end of the machine and passes. through a,` yoke-.2l and is fastened thereto by locking nuts- 23.` Flexible `shock absorbers 29 are interposed between the yoke and locking nuts. 'I'he yoke 21 is loosely mounted on the upper ends of the side bars 30 upon the pin 3|. The lower ends of the side bars 30 are pvotally mounted at 32 on the base I.

Levers 33 are held at a predetermined location relative to the side bars 30, by the adjustable hangers 34;

upper end of the hanger 34 is adjustably positioned on the stub pin 36, which is xedly secured'.y to the side bars 30. The pivot point 350i the lever 33 bears against the side bar 30 at'31v and provides a fulcrum point for the lever4 33;- The lower end of the lever is pivotally. conne'ctedto.y

the connecting link 38 at 39. The opposite end of the link 38 is adjustably mounted at 48 to the frame of the machine by the locking nut 46A. AV spring 4| is interposed between the frame and the collar 42-of the link 33 for absorbing oscillating shocks. Discs 43 are pivotally mounted'on'the u'pper portion of the screening unit 1at 44'. Upon each of these discs is located the cam 45. These cams are mounted within housings 45A; which have adjusting means, as nuts 45B. The discs arepositionedin any desired position about their holdingpins 4'4, andheld by the locking pins 46, which are tapped into the upper unit 1,.

In operation the eccentric mechanism mounted one'tl'ie shaft 23 oscillates the yoke 21, pivoting the; side arms about the pivot point'32, at the Sametime forcing the levers 33- towards' the cams 45 in the. following manner: As the side bars' 36 are. pulled to the left' they force the fulcrum' points 35 ofthe levers 33' to the left, pivoting these. levers about the pivot 39 of the links 38. This. forces the cam surfaces 33A against the' cam 45; swinging .the screening unit on its hanger links I-4'.and` I5; providing a rising'and' a" lower"- ingoscillation' on the return of the levers 33.` The fulcrum point 31 is raised or lowered by the hangers-.34 for changing the length of oscillation impartedtothe screening unit by changing'the' distance between thefulcrum point 31 andthe'cam 451. When the position of the levers 3'3is'changed by. hangers 3'4, the cam contact su'rface'33A` was changed relative to the cam 45. It is' desirable" to keep the thrust of'cam contact' surfaceY 33Al approximately in a direct line with camV 45and' disc center 44, the means of adjustment having been describedv above.

Illwill' now describe the main object `of my in:- vention, namely, the system of recovering the Concentrates. Referring to Figure 8, I have'A shownfour concentrating or recoveryunits 6I`, 627,vr 63; and' 61|'. These concentrating unitsY are mounted upon a supporting shaft 65 runnin-g longitudinally ofthe machine, this shaft is supported upon` cross shafts or spacers 66, cross shafts 66 are rigidly mounted to the frameof the machine. The longitudinally supporting shaft thisV securely clampedto the cross shafts 66 by suitable U-bolts 66A, off well known construction. Extending" transversely ofthe machine are channel tracksA 68,169, and 1|, these tracks'are mountedl upon' the.` upright supports 12, which are clampedV to the longitudinally supporting shaftsr 65 at 13.

The recovery units are made up inthe following-,mannen They have movable side frames 14, which are mounted upon the' channel tracks 68, 69 1l)v and 1I by having wheels 16 journaled to the Stub shafts 15, said stub shafts are fiXedly securedto the ends of the side frames 14; EX- tendi'ng, longitudinally between the recovery unitsI are rigid frames" y11", resting upon channelsupf 'I5-f The: lower end of' the hangersfare` pivotally journaled to the lever 33- at 35. They ports 18, supports 1.8 being in turn supported by the uprights 12 and uprights 19. Clamped between the frame 11 and the retaining strips 80 is pleated flexible material 8|, which extend across from the frame 11 to the outside frames 14, where they are clamped in between the retaining strips 82 and the frames 14.

It2 will be noted by referring to -therrespective drawings,.that. while oneof the;l recovery units is stretched more or less taut, the other recovery unit sags considerably lower and the pleats are in open condition, the reason for this will be later described. The frames 14 are held apart by connecting links Sii-which are connected to the shafts 15; holding; the side frames 14 at a predetermined distance apart. Running centrally and longitudinally of the recovery units 6I and 62' is operating shaft8'4, journaled in uprights 85, saiduprights are mounted on the channel tracks 68 and Y6Fl. Cranks 86 and 81 extend downwardly from thepoperatingshaft 84 and havev connected thereto' the' tension springs 88; rlihe opposite en'dsof* the tension" springsare w connected' to-the stub`shaftf'15 ofcthe`side frames-14% Theoperat'- ing shaft 8'4" operates the recovery units 6 and 62; while-an-additional operating=shaft 96oper at'esV the units 63 and- 64. The crank arms 92 are` fixed'to the shaft illlancl'extend` downwardlyhaving their' outer ends connectedltothe tension springs .133i Theoppositeendsoff'the springs93 are connected' to the stub shafts'15'; The cranks 86" and' 92V areoperated-in lthe following manner-z A' crank arm 86Ad is oppositely' disposed from' the' crank 86 and lines up4 opposite'tothe crank 92, both being connected together-by# the wristv pin- 92A of' the connecting-rod'gll and'oscillatedthere Whenfthek connecting rod 9de-is operated inone direction, the cranks 92 position the recovery units 63^ anol-l 1.4t0wardone 'side-of:4 the-machine, whilethe'cranks 86-and181 position the recovery unitsl 6I andf6-2 on-the-opposite'side ofthelma-echine, this being clone to'balancethemechanism in its operation. The connecting-rod 94'.y is' op'-f eratedb'y'the'bell crank 95'; which inlturn is pivotallymounted at- 96 and'is oscillated by the-cone necting rod 91, which' terminatesA` on the crankl pin S'Blo'fthe pulley 89'.- T-he pulley' Sldslcarriedv by a suitable'bearing pedestall I-IIIYl and is' driven" by the belt IUI from the pu11ey-|l2,I the pulley |112' is keyedt-othe-shaftl 23: Thel shaft 2'3-receivesI itsv power through apulleyI I 03AI driven by the belt |83 and counter -drive-v mechanism I 04, which* in turn is4r driven from anyA suitablepower means.-

When the materials have been`A deliveredl from" the-'laun-ders |88A andL Ill to-therecovery units 6|, G2; 6%- andv 64'-, best shown inV Figures 10,7112 and 12g thefollowing'action'takeslplace,` the-flexi bleY pleated recovery unit' 8| on our right, indi cated-by the numeral isJ stretchedalmost` taut: throughout its'length; In this-position the-maf terials# sluice rapidlyoverits-longitudinalv surface with'the 4pleats 8I-A' more` orless actingj as shallowy rifiles. To our left th'eflexibl'e'pleated recoveryJ unit indicated bynumeral' |106; isl in its relaxed or flexed position, whi'l'e in this position thelflovr of materiali is momentarily slacked allowing theL concentrates -tosettle between the pleats as-indi' cated at |01. When the operating shafts' 84# and 98 are oscillated bythe connecting rod 94, throughI the drive mechanism heretofore described',- the relation of the recovery unitsvwill be changed;` The units onr our left, Figures l0, 1-1Land-12, indi"- cated by numeral y|86,l Willi assume'. the positionJ shown by unit H35 and unit |95 will appear as the unit IUE on the left, therefore, the material in the unit lill will speed up the sluicing, the pleats or pockets HB1 will close, forcing out the lighter materials from the concentrates into the sluice to be carried away while the pleats in unit |05 will open to the position shown by Figure 12, slacking the sluicing and concentrating the heavier materials upon the pleats |01. This completes the cycle of operation, consisting of screening and concentrating the materials being processed.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular mechanical construction shown and described in the drawings, as other mechanical equivalents may be used still coming within the scope of the claims to follow.

What I claim is:

1. A material concentrator comprising a flexible member formed with a plurality of transversely disposed V-shaped pocket forming folds, one wall of each fold being lowermost and having a substantial portion thereof extending from the forward edge of the upper Wall, the extending portion of said lower wall overlying the upper wall of an adjacent fold, and means for laterally flexing said member to thereby open and contract said folds.

2. A material concentrator comprising a frame, a flexible member in said frame, means securing the opposite longitudinal edges of said member to said frame, means secured to the opposite longitudinal edges of said member and extending lengthwise thereof for alternately flexing and tightening said member, said member comprising a flexible element formed with a plurality of transversely disposed folds constituting pockets, one wall of each fold being lowermost and having a substantial portion thereof extending from the forward edge of the upper wall, the extending portion of said lower wall overlying the upper wall of an adjacent fold.

3. In a material concentrating device, a concentrating means comprising a stationary frame, a flexible member fixed in the longitudinal center thereof to said frame, said flexible member formed with transversely disposed folds constituting pockets having their open sides opposing the iiow of material over said member, and means engaging the opposite longitudinal edges of said member for shifting one portion of said member laterally of the length thereof to a substantially taut material concentrating condition while simultaneously shifting the adjacent portion of said member in the same direction to a loose material receiving condition.

4. In a material concentrating device, a concentrating means comprising a stationary frame,

a flexible member fixed at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof to said frame, said member having a plurality of pairs of V-shaped pockets formed therein, a wall of one pocket overlapping a wall of an adjacent pocket and said pockets being disposed in opposedl relation to the flow of the material, and laterally movable means fixed to said member on the opposite longitudinal edges thereof pulling one portion of said member to thereby compress the pockets on one side of the center thereof while simultaneously relaxing the opposite portion of said member to thereby open the pockets on the other side of the center thereof.

5. In a concentrating device, a stationary concentrator supporting frame, a flexible member xed in substantially the longitudinal center thereof to said concentrator frame, a plurality of transversely disposed parallel pockets formed in said flexible member, concentrator frame bars fixed to said flexible member on the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, and means connected with said frame bars for transversely exing said exible member whereby to constrict certain of said pocketsand simultaneously open certain others of said pockets, said pockets being disposed in opposed relation to the flow of material over said exible member, and said pockets being so constructed that one wall of a pocket overlaps an adjacent wall of an adjacent pocket and all of the walls of the pockets will be in substantially parallelism when in constricted or closed position.

6. In a concentrating device, a stationary concentrator supporting frame, a flexible member xed in substantially the longitudinal center thereof to said concentrator frame, a plurality of transversely disposed parallel pockets formed in said flexible member, concentrator frame bars fixed to said iiexible member on the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, said supporting frame including a pair of transversely disposed guide members flxed to said first frame and disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said flexible member, rollers carried by said frame bars engaging said guide members, means disposed centrally of said flexible member for transversely reciprocating said frame bars to thereby constrict -certain of said pockets and simultaneously open the remaining pockets, said pockets being disposed in opposed relation to the flow of material over said flexible member, and said pockets being so constructed that one wall of a pocket overlaps an adjacent wall of an adjacent pocket and all of the Walls of the pockets will be in substantially parallelism when in constricted or closed position.

CLAYSON R. HAMMOND. 

